Duplicating machine



Nov. 14, 1944.

JNVENTOB s She ets-Sheet 1 d r 5 d q 1 R wm ow.

F. R. FORD DUPLICATING MACHINE 'Filed Dec. 11, 1941 F. R. FORD DUPLICATING MACHINE Nov. 14, 1944 Filed Dec. 11, 1941' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE NToE. Frank Rona ld'Ford h, Aw,

Patented Nov; 14, 1944 Q :En -lan Application December 11, Lan -serial No e V In GreatBritain my 23,194 w 'Thisinvention relates to improvementsin or modifications of gtheinvention-forming thes b ject of *priorispecificationU.- S'. A.. applicat No. 372 119 wherein :I haye described aduplieat his machine in which provisioni madef'or moiste,

eniiig" the j copy sheets sectionally' sotliat when amaster sheet issecuredto the cylinder with the lines of writing "thereon 'extendi ircumferen} tially the matter reproduced; on the copy sheet may'ibej coniinedjto'any one or more of suchlines; j In specification U S; application 37211911116 machine comprises a carriage ,mounteid on guides for moyement parallel to the axis of the cylinder the carriage having thereon a plurality of pres- I sure rollers of line or, P ag ap 4 width an a .corresponding number of I moistening, jinenibers v of approximately; corresponding width; jlsaid moistening membersi'beingmounted for movement manually in and; outof the operative posiv tion, and a pressing memberjfor pressingthe copy sheets against the moisteningmemberor ine n bers which is in the operative position said presslns m r. in aut mat all ra sed trom. its operative position once each revolution of the cylinder to allow .of the insertion of a copy sheet;

The object of the present invention is to provide certain improvements in or modifications H of the machine disclosed in the priorspecification. c

' One of the modifications in accordance with .the present invention consistsin the provision'pf a coupling operating between each pressure roller and its associated moistening member whereby the operation of. a single operating member moves both'int'oor out ,of the operativeposition*simultaneously.

Each 'wpressure roller may 'be adapted'to be i moved by acaminto'its operative'position and this cam can be operated to permit the pressure roller to move into the inoperative position and its operative position may be assisted by a spring and -a stop may be provided to. limit the movement or eaeh moistening member --away from -its operative-position.

i his stop-maybe in the-'form of a head and pivoted plate-which capablepf being moved intoan inoperativeposition to allow oi? the complete removal of the moistening'pa-ds.

The moistening pads or members maybe mounted to slide "on the top of tank between adjustable guide vplates so that the-positions of the said members or pads can beadjusted latera- I v -Th casing of each -moistening;member may be constructed soy-that when the pad ismoved intoits inoperative position contact bet-ween *the pad and the associated wick is severed by a part of-thegcasing'. v

*ZEn the prior specifica-tion-I have disclosed a depression-atth periphery pf the cylinder-Which enables the copy sheets to be inserted between the pressure rollers and the cylinder without glif tficul'ty and according to ;a further part of fche present j invention this depression which is adjacent 'the master sheet clip is-rnade to as a cam to produce endw'ise movements of 'the pressure roller-stems; Further these stems maybe mend d fl' ll "sp i c ppaers carry ingthe pressing ember for; the moistening Accordingto a further modification in accordance with this invention the carriage maybeof articulated construction whereby the'portion which carris the pressure-rollers and associated motion transmitting means such asa Bowden cable being connected to the cam and to the associated-moistening member Wherebythe'roIler and the pad are movedin sympathy. A push'pi'nmay be interposed'between the cam and the stem carrying the pressure roller therebeing-a. spring operating between thehead of theseid pin and the end of the stem; V

yFui-ther according tothe present invention the operatinggear for two pressure rollers may be, mechanically or otherwise coupled-"together so that when'oneis'movedinto the operative position the other'is moved into the, inoperative po'- sition.

The movement or {each moisteninz member into Figure 6-is a perspective view i'of parts is enabled*- to fmake ;a pivotal movement about a ;hori z-oiital* axis to, give ready access to upper part of the cylinder;

,fieferringftothedrawings; f

1 f'gi refIfis' af pl an vievv'showingamaehine constructed in v accordance with this invention.

, Figure 3 is a section on line-3+4 of'Figure z.

theworkingparts mounted thereon and to the tank andas'socifatedparts.

Figure-5 isa sectionalview showing the stop plate} used for the moistening members.

one ofthe moistening nembers and its casing; I

7 "is a b'ack' view "of the *twofpressure rollers andassociatedImechan-ism.

} IIIthB' construct n illustrated the general designof the machine-ideas not differi rfron that shown in the prior patent; The cylinderisshown j at i 0 is-mounted for rotation with a shaft Figure :4 is a plan'viewshoivinQ-thetqp 0f the v Two brackets H are mounted upon the upper' edges of the side members I2 of the machine frame and these brackets carry a guide rod I8.

The machine is provided with a laterally moving carriage which comprises a tank I9 for containing moistening fluid and a box 20 carrying the stems of the pressure rollers which press the copy sheets on to the master sheet. The box 20 is guided on the rod I8the box being provided IM into which the screws I02 carried by the levers can be moved when it is desired to release the coupling. Each lever may have a finger piece I03 secured to it by the screw I02. This coupling enables the rollers to be operated so that when one is moved into the operative position the other is' automatically moved into the inoperative'pofsition. r f f .The cam shaft 45 extendsthrough' the plate 36 and at the exterior thereof is provided with a cap 98 carrying a spring pressed ball 99 em gaging with either of two spaced recesses in the plate 36 and thus serving to retain the cam in either of its two terminal positions. The cap 98 carriesadjustably an indicator arm 48 which cooperates with an indicator sheet similar with ball bearing rollers 21 mounted in brackets A. similar provision is made in the tank I9 which is provided with a tube 23 and with ball bearing rollers 24 engaging one of the bolts I3. I

The carriage can thus move laterally with a minimum of friction and the means for moving the carriage in this way is that described in the prior specification.

The tank I9 has associated with it a glass vessel I04 connected by a metal tube I05 to the tank so that the level of the liquid in the tank will show in the vessel I04.

The tank I9 is formed with two end plates one of which can be seen at 25 and these end plates are extended upwardly to form bracket like structures 26 which carry between them a pair of bars 2! upon which rests the feed tray 28.

Secured to the ends of the bars 21 are further brackets 29. These brackets carry a rod 30 extending parallel to the axis of the cylinder and mounted on this rod are brackets 3| carrying the box 20. p I 5 Normally the brackets -3I are fixed to the rod 30 by grub screws 32 but these grub screws can be removed and the arms 3| together with the I box and all parts mounted therein and thereon canbe rotated about the axis of the rod 30 in a clockwise direction (Figure 2) in order thateasy access may be obtained to the parts protruding from the under side of the box. This action also permits of access to the upper part of the cylinder when required.

Extending between the end portions of the arms 3I are two rods 33 and secured .to these rods by screws 34 is a cheek plate 35 forming .1".

provided with 'pins 40 upon which the rollers 39 .5-

are mounted.

At its upper end each stem is bored as shown at 4| and provided with a push pin 42 having a head 43. A coilv spring 44 is mounted on the push pin and operates between the top of the stem and l the underside of the head 43.

Mounted horizontally in the upper part of the box isa cam shaft 45 for each stem 38 upon which shaftis a cam 46 operable by a lever 41.

These levers 4:! may be releasablycoupled together by a link I00 having a wide centre part to. the master and mounted upon a support 49. When the cam 46 is in the position it occupies when the corresponding pressure roller 39 is in operation the indicator arm 48 is raised. If however the cam is operated so as to take the pressure roller 39 out of operation the indicator arm 481s lowered. I

As shown in Figure 3 the cam is in .the position it occupies when the pressure roller 39 is in operation. In order to take the pressure roller out of operation the lever 41 (see Figure 3) is moved in a clockwise direction.

Projecting from the side 'of each of the stems 38 is a lug 50 and on its upper side each of these lugs is provided with an eye 5| connected by a tension spring 52 to a pin' 53 attached to the plate 36. Thus when the cam is operated to allow the stem 38 to rise the stem is pulled upwardly by the spring 52 thus taking the pressure roller 39 out of operation.

During normal working when the camis in the position shown in Figure 3 the pressure roller 39 projects somewhat into the space formed bythe depression in the surface of the cylinder when the cylinder is driven however it raises the pressure roller 39 slightly thus compressing the spring 44 whereby the roller 39 bears with light pressure on the top of the copy sheet and presses it on to the master until the depression in the cylinder'again comes under the pressure roller.

The'feed tray 28 is constructed. substantially as shown in the prior patent. It is provided with improved means whereby its position can be' ad justed relatively to the carriage but such improved means form the subject of an application filed concurrently herewith and need'not' be de-. scribed here.

The copy sheet is indicated at 54 and it is necessary that this should be pressed down on to the moistening pad 55 during the operation of the machine. v s

The means provided for doing this as described in the prior patent produced considerable ffric tion operating against lateral movement ofthe carriage and according to the pres entinventionl hav substituted improved means whereby such friction is entirely eliminated. I

For this purpose I provide two levers 9 pivoted at56 to the bracket like portions of the" arms 3| and these levers 9 are jconnected by a bar 51 adapted to be contacted at its upper side by screws 58 adjustably mounted in the lugs 50. These screws are provided with lock nuts 59 so that they can be set ancl then locked in position;

At its opposite ehdeach lever is provided with a short stem 60 and these stems are connected by a bar or roller 6| adapted to engage the upper side of the copy sheet and pressit. down on to the moistener 55. w

1. member of the cable finds an abutment in m ss Angle sseotion: plates :62 are 'provided engagling the :upper and lend surfaces :of the clevers and one-side of 1each'..stem--60'. Thexsstems'fllhave reduced portions which pass through the l'evers :9- andothe angl 'ifilrand are secured by nuts 63. A c,p late spring 64 engages one of these nuts 63 and this plate spring is mounted in a pinjfii'which is fixed in the"bracket-l-ike portion-oi one "of -the arms 3 The pin'fii can'be turned on itsown axis f and secured to adjust the pressure ofthe' -spring The levers B are thus spring loaded so that-the bar or rol-ler' fi' l is tending to move down on' to th'e Figure 5.

" The rstopplate- 1.9 is fixed an a pin 80 one end 8zl;o'f.:whioh formsian operatinglever. The pin 8!} is mounted -for-turning movement and endwise movement:in'the1platesZBand fixed on the pin iska collar- 83 between'which and the side of the aids'acentlplate 26 operates a spring :84 thus keeping thei'stop plate "19in theposi-tion shown The stop plate 19 in an anti-clockwise direction as seen in Figure 2 try-means ,of'a pin-382 on the inner side of one of the platesIZG. If the rod- 80 is pushed end-' upperside' of the copy sheet but is prevented from doing so by the screw :58.

During normal operation when the cylinder rotates it"raises the pressure roller 38 and the associated stem 38 thus also raising the lugj50 and' the screw '58 and permitting the levers Sl to rock and the bar or roller 6i to engage the i-ipper side of the copy sheet;

already explained there are a 'pliirality of pressure rollers and sometimes all are used to gether-andsometimes only one is used. When a I pressure roller 39 is out of use itisraised bythe spring '52 anc'l consequentl-y the pin 58 associated with that particular"stem will 'be out-of operation. Consequently' the moistening bar or roller '61 will be pnt'into operation by whichever of-"the :pressure-' rollersis in operation and the*'mois'tening 'bar or'rolle'r 64 --will be raised out-of operation by the particular pressure rollerand' its associated parts whiehhappens to be inoperatiom The general formof-themoistneris the same as that described in the prior specification but the moistener casing-66 is provided with anadditi'onalpart-61 so that when the 'moisterier is slid back out 0f operation the additional party 61- will sever the contact between the uriderside-of the moistening pad and the wick 68 '-from which itwre'ceives moisture. Thus the flow of moistening fluid to the moistening pad will be stopped atall times when the' -mois'tening pad is out-offopera- In :the present construction a mechanical; cou-' pling isgestablished between the operating cam of each pressure roller and the associated "moisten-j ing member the arrangement being such that the two work in sympathy -i. e. they are brought into the operative positionasimultaneously and taken out of the operative position simultaneously by the operation'of a single member this "being the lever l 'lof the camw r i Each moistening pad is provided witha wire stem 69 by which it may be withdrawnfr'om the operative positionandreturned to the operative position and in accordance with the present invention this stem 69 is provided with a small bracket 76 to which is attached one end H of a Bowden cable the opposite end 12 of which is attached at 73 to one of the cams 46. Each of the cams is provided with a groove 14 to accommodate the Bowden.cable.. I

. The outer member 15 of the cable finds an wise to the iefitlasseenin Figure 5 thestop plate 19 isam'oved: bodily to the .left and will-clear the pin .82 soithatzittcan' then be turned by the lever 8.1 into. .a horizontal position thus allowing the 1 moistening'members t :be completely withdrawn.

.The flower edge :of the stop plate is provided WifihqQflIlUlTIbBPOf slots 85 I which are of "inverted L shape. .'when the stop-plate is" inthe position shown inFigure 5 thewires 69 engage in the'horizontalrrims of the slots but when the plate 11-9 is pushedzto the leftiasseen in Figdre 5 it oaln readily be'freed from the Wires 69.

, Awlarge:v number of the slets =-'85 are provided because thezmoisteners. may occupy any one of a number-10f positions'iand are laterally adjustable across the top of the tank.

with thatshown inlrthe prior' 'specification and the leverflzisefixedto *a rod '93 which canoscil- .;from said cylinder, a plurality of stems slid- I abutment at one side 16 of the box in which the stems 38 slide and the opposite end of the outer a bar 11 extending between the plates 26.

In order to assist the movement of themoistening pad into the working position springs vl8 are provided on the wires 69 these springs en-- gaging against .an adjustable stop plate Hat one end and pushing against the end ofthernoistening pad at the opposite end.

.As. shown in Figure 4 each of the moisteners I canslide between guide plates 86 and these guide plates .canyb'e" adjusted by-removing screws B1 and inserting themzin fres'h holes '88 in the top plate 189 which retains the guide plates 86 and the moistenersnirrlposition.

The key 9.0 for moving the carriage witha step by step,motionlaterally"can be operated automatically to move :the carriage one step at each revolution of the cylinderasiin the priorpatent thisactionbeing .eflected byawam 9 1 on the a i end of the cylinder .co-ope'rating With-' a"lever 92. This lever is somewhat. modified as compared lateinnthexside plates of the-machine. The

lever lisacted upon bya spring 94 and a stop '95 is-lprovided .to limit :its :motionunder the influ-' encea'of :thezspriingd l. The lever 92 is provided withra :portion- 9.6 Y, which engages theupper side ofithe. lever 31 having the .key 90. P I

-WhatI-.;claim;then is:' T j 1.5.111 a duplicatingmachine, the combination with a cylinder having means for'attaching a master sheet thereto-ya box a't afixed distance" fromisaid :cylinder, a plurality of stems --slidably mountedin :said box, anda pressure roller for cooperating with the cylinder mounted on each stem, of springs associated wit-h' said box tending to move each of said rollers away from the cylinder, and a cam in said box for each of said stems for displacing it towards the cylinder.

2. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a box ata fixed distance ably mounted in said box, and a pressure roller for cooperating with the cylinder mounted on' each stem, of springs associated with said box tending to move each of said rollers away from the cylinder, a cam in said box for each of'said stems for displacing it towards the cylinder, and a' single operating member for all of said cams.

3. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a box at, a. fixed distance from said cylinder, a plurality of stems slidis' p'revented from turning ably mounted in said box, and a pressure roller for cooperating with the cylinder mounted on each stem, of springs associated withsaid'box tending to move each of said rollers. away from the cylinder, a cam in said box for each of said stems for displacing it towards the cylinder, a headed push pin engagingin the end. of. each stem, and a spring engaging between: the. head of each push pinland the. adjacent end of the stem.

4. In a duplicating machine, a moistening means for sectionally moistening the copy sheets including a tank for copy sheet moistening liquid, a plurality of moistening members mounted on the top of the tank, and adjustable guide plates for the edges ofthe moistening members.

5. In a duplicating machine moistening means for sectionally moistening the copy sheets including a plurality of moistening members individuallymovable into and out of an operativeposition a stem attached to each of said moistening members, a stop plate'extending at right angles to the direction of movement of saidmoistening members, and a spring on each, of said stems acting between said stop plate and the moistener, said stop plate being releasable from said stems.

6. In a duplicating machine; moistening means for sectionally moistening the copy sheets including a tank for containing moistening fluid, said tank having an opening in its top, moistening members slidable over said opening, bracket like structures formed by upward extensions of the end plates of said tank, a stop consisting of a plate having a plurality, of inverted L shaped slots in one edge, a stem attached to each of said moistening members, said moistener stems engaging in said slots, and a spring on each of said stems acting between said stop plate and the moistener, said stop plate being releasable from said stems and pivoted in said bracket like structures.

7. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a box at a fixed distance from said cylinder, a pair of stems slidably mounted in said box, a pressure roller for cooperating with the cylinder mounted on each stem, and springs associated with said box tending to move each of said rollers away from the cylinder, of a cam in said box for each of said stems.

for displacing it towards the cylinder, coupling means associated with said cams whereby they move simultaneously, said cams being disposed so that when one hasmoved its stem to the operative position, the other has permitted the otherstem to move into the inoperative position.

8. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a cylinder having means for'attaching a master sheet thereto, said cylinder having a peripheral depression near to said master sheet attaching means, a box at a fixed distance from said cylinder, a plurality of stems slidably mounted'in said box, a pressure roller for coop crating with the cylinder, mounted on each stem, springs associated with said box tending to move each of said rollers away from the cylinder, a cam in said box for each of said stems for displacing it towards the cylinder, levers rockable about a pivot axis parallel to and at a fixed distance from the cylinder axis, a pressing member for the copy sheets, carried by said levers, and an abutment on said stems for rocking said levers and raising the pressing member,

when the cylinder has its peripheral depression under thepressure rollers.

. 9;. A duplicating machine comprising a frame in which is mounted a cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a guide carried by the frame, said guide being parallel to the cylinder axis, a carriage mounted on and movable along the guide, a box associated and moving with said carriage, a plurality of stems slidably mounted in said box, a pressure roller for cooperating with the cylinder mounted on each stem, springs associated with said box tending to move each of said rollers away from the cylinder, a cam in said box for each of said stems for displacing it towards the cylinder, a tray on said carriage for copy sheets, a plurality of moistening members on the carriage individually movable into and out of an operative position, motion transmitting, and means connecting each of said camswith a moistening member means in said box for each of said stems for displacing it towards the cylinder, said carriage being in two parts pivoted together, one part carrying the moistening means and the tray, and the other part including the box and the parts associated therewith.

.10. In a duplicating machine, moistening means for sectionally moistening the copy sheets including a plurality of moistening members ini dividually movable into and out of an operative 

